Community members can sign up for our Carmel Central School District News group through ParentSquare to stay up-to-date on district news and events. You will receive weekly e-newsletters as well as other updates with important district information. Current parents and staff are automatically subscribed to receive e-newsletters.
As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing safety, communication and equity districtwide, Carmel Central School District has launched a new communication tool, Anonymous Alerts®. This tool enables students or parents to report urgent information to school officials quickly, easily and anonymously across all our school campuses.
Proposition #2 Addresses Districtwide Safety and Security in Tax Neutral Bond
Aside from voting on the school district budget for next year, on May 21 voters will also be asked to vote on a proposition to fund $11.8 million in safety and security projects throughout the district.
Knowing that students can’t learn unless they feel safe, and in light of school safety concerns throughout the country in the past few years, a District Safety Team, made up of parents, community members, school administrators, and law enforcement and security experts has spent much time assessing the security in our schools. Additionally, the district recently hired Safety and Security consultants to conduct a safety audit, and a list of recommendations was developed.
Much of the recommended work has been completed but larger projects cannot be covered by the annual operating budget, which the district is proposing to fund through a capital project.
Work proposed in this project includes:
It is a sad testament to our times that these security measures have become necessary in schools throughout the country, but making these upgrades will help ensure that our staff and students are in a safe environment that is conducive to learning.
The advantage to residents of funding this type of work through a Capital Project is that much of it is eligible for state aid. We anticipate that 60% of the cost - approximately $6.3 million – will be covered by New York State.
Dear Carmel Community,
It is not every day that we get to share news about something that is going to save families in the Carmel Central School District a lot of money. So, we are very excited to tell you that, starting December 1, 2023 school breakfast and lunch will be free for all students in all our schools.
This program, which is funded by a New York State Education Department grant, will save families $1,130 per child per year. Families with two children will save $2,260 per year. Three-child families will save $3,390 per year, and so on. These savings are based on a grant that allows Carmel schools to provide students with a free breakfast and lunch every school day through June 2027.
Additional meals may be purchased at the following prices: breakfast at the elementary schools, $1.50; breakfast at the middle and high schools, $2.00; lunch at the Elementary School, $3.35; lunch at the middle and high Schools, $3.65. There is still an additional cost to purchase à la carte items such as snacks, bottled water, extra portions and secondary beverages.
It is important to note that the no-cost breakfast and lunch program is not retroactive. Any negative debt incurred prior to December 1, 2023, will remain on the student’s account until payment is received.
Previously, only certain families qualified for free meals through New York State. I want to thank Director of School Food Services Patrick Rodia and his assistant, Christine Foltmer, for ensuring that every child who was previously eligible for free meals was enrolled. Their efforts made our entire school district qualify under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and receive the funding granted by the New York State Education Department. Now, what was once limited to a few students is available to all.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) below. If you have any questions, please contact the Food Services Department at: carmelfoodservices@carmelschools.org
Sincerely,
Joseph McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)?
A: The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a funding option under the National School Lunch Act that allows eligible schools to provide free meals to all students.
Q: Do I need to fill out an application for my child to receive meals at no cost?
A: No, families do not need to fill out an application for their child to gain eligibility for breakfast and lunch at no cost.
Q: What does CEP cover for my child?
A: With the CEP designation, all Carmel Central School District (CCSD) enrolled students can receive one healthy breakfast and one nutritious lunch per school day.
Q: I am new to the District and/or the Food Services program - what does a healthy lunch entail for my child? What about breakfast?
A: A healthy lunch always consists of five components: a protein, grain, fruit, vegetable, and milk. To be considered a full meal, children must choose at least three of these components, including either a fruit or vegetable. A full breakfast consists of four components: two grains (main entree), one cup of fruit/juice or a vegetable, one cup of milk. Students must choose three of the four components offered with one of those components being a fruit/juice or vegetable.
Q: Can my child still purchase snacks and à la carte items? What about a second breakfast or lunch?
A: Yes, snacks and à la carte items (including milk) are available. However, students will need cash or funds in their prepaid accounts to make these purchases. Also, only the first breakfast and first lunch of the day are free. A student would need cash or funds in their prepaid accounts to pay for a second breakfast or lunch.
Q: How can I add funds to my child’s account to make those types of purchases?
A: You can add funds by sending a check or cash in with your child or virtually through MySchoolBucks, an online school meal payment system. To avoid the fee, students can always pay with cash for their purchase. In addition, parents may send in a check or cash to be added to the student’s prepaid account.
Q: What if I already have money in my child's account for meals? Can I get it back?
A: Parents can either request a refund from the Food Services Department or leave the funds in their student’s account for à la carte items or snacks. Please send an email to carmelfoodservices@carmelschools.org to request a refund. Please include the first name, last name, and ID # of the student. Also, include parent/guardian name and address where the reimbursement check should be mailed. Please note that depending on the volume of requests, refunds may take up to 45 days to process. If there is an automatic replenishment of funds set up on your student's MySchoolBucks account, please discontinue this feature before requesting meal account reimbursement.
Q: What if there is negative debt left on my child’s account?
A: Free breakfasts and lunches are not retroactive, and any negative debt incurred prior to December 1, 2023, will remain in the student’s account until payment is received.
Q: What if my child brings their own lunch and just wants some milk or a piece of fruit?
According to State guidelines, to access the free meal benefit, a child must take what counts as a full meal, which means choosing at least three of the five components (including a fruit or vegetable) that make up the meal. Food Services staff will guide your child in understanding what constitutes a full meal.
Q: Does funding for school meals come out of my school taxes?
A: No, meals and food at schools are not funded by your school tax dollars. Instead, the funding comes from Federal and State taxes.
In response to the community's concerns, the Administration is working with the PTOs/PTAs to schedule a series of Carmel Cafe sessions. These sessions will provide additional structured opportunities for community members to give feedback on next year's budget. So far, we have scheduled two meetings: Thursday, March 14, 2024, at Kent Elementary School, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.; and Monday, March 18, 2024, at Matthew Paterson Elementary School, 6:30 p.m. -7:30 p.m. We hope to see you there.
Dear Carmel Community,
Given the weather conditions, the Unity in the Community -- Strictly No Elephants event that had been scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 13, has been canceled. We will reschedule it and announce the date when arrangements are made. The theme of the event is based on the book "Strictly No Elephants" by Lisa Mantchev, a children's book about friendship and belonging that is in keeping with the spirit of the #Carmel6Cs.
Sincerely,
Joseph McGrath, Interim Superintendent of Schools
Can you believe how fast this school year has gone? It seems just yesterday I was greeting incoming kindergartners and helping to calm their first-bus-ride jitters, and now those little ones are already old-hands in the school routine.
In the months that I have served as your Interim Superintendent of Schools, I have become so proud of the Carmel Central School District. All five of our schools are filled with teachers, administrators and staff that are talented, hardworking, and dedicated to helping our students succeed. Our students are eager to take advantage of the many opportunities Carmel has to offer. Our parents have shown what it means to be a community in so many ways. This includes supporting our students at everything from PTA/PTO/SEPTO events, to Parent Teacher Conferences to art shows to music events, to athletic events, to turning out for our Unity in the Community events and so much more. It's a wonderfully vibrant community.
I am grateful to part of our school district community. I hope you all find some time to relax with your families during the holiday break.
I wish you all a happy and healthy new year.
Warmly,
Joseph McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
November 21, 2023
Dear Carmel Community,
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for all of you for being part of our amazing community.
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the many blessings we have in our lives, and to share our appreciation with those who matter most to us. Research has shown that gratitude can have many benefits for our well-being. It can enhance our happiness, health, relationships, and even our academic performance. Gratitude can also help us cope with stress, adversity, and uncertainty.
I encourage you to help your children practice gratitude not only on Thanksgiving, but every day. When we talk about what we are thankful for, express our gratitude to our families, and engage in acts of kindness together, we are teaching the next generation a life-long lesson.
I am personally grateful for the privilege of serving as your Superintendent of Schools, and for the trust and collaboration you have shown me. I am grateful for our dedicated staff, who work tirelessly to provide the best possible education for our students. I am grateful for our amazing students, who inspire me with their curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm. And I am grateful for our supportive families, who partner with us to make our schools a safe and nurturing environment.
I wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Joseph McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
October 16, 2023
Dear Carmel Community,
We are excited to announce two evening events for the staff and community called “Unity in our Community” Participants will have the opportunity to attend two sessions, exploring and building on shared experiences working toward a vision of unity for the community. These events will be held at Carmel High School Gymnasium at 6:30 PM on October 25th and November 2, 2023. I hope that you will be able to join us as we stand together in our efforts to stand against hate.
October 25 Unity in our Community - led by Matt Latimer Lead Conciliation Specialist, U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Service.
Carmel High School Gymnasium at 6:30 PM
A follow up to the Dialog on Race
This interactive session will provide informational sessions on the district’s progress and offer attendees the ability to craft action steps to build on prior work.
November 2, 2023, Unity in our Community - led by Steve Goldberg, Education Specialist, Holocaust and Human Rights Center.
Carmel High School Gymnasium at 6:30 PM
Exploring the Symbols and Language of Hate
A symbol is a concept that expresses, represents, stands for or suggests an idea, quality, belief, action or material object. Symbols can be neutral or positive. But symbols can also become negative through association. Are symbols — both verbal and nonverbal — protected by the First Amendment? This interactive presentation will explore the language and symbols of hate, with specific emphasis on the swastika. Strategies on how to work with students on this challenging topic will be discussed.
Please let us know if you are coming by completing this form: https://forms.office.com/r/U87aXTUk6u
Sincerely,
Joseph McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
November 2, 2023
Dear Carmel Community,
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These days, school districts are facing difficult issues nationally. Students react to reports on the news and conversations at the dinner table and, before you know it, national and world events spill over into our hallways. As you have seen from our previous communications, the Carmel Central School District has not been immune to the issues we see on the nightly news. We have notified you about a number of incidents of swastikas being drawn on school property. We send those notices because we do not want to normalize antisemitism or make hate speech of any form acceptable in our schools. We value the safety of every student in our schools, regardless of background, so we call out hate incidents in real time. Tonight, we will take an academic look at these symbols, their history and their meaning. Food will be served. Last week, we held the first Unity in Our Community event and looked at the progress our district has made in the past few months and what more we can do to create a school culture where everyone feels valued. Tonight Thursday, November 2, our second Unity in Our Community event -- Exploring the Symbols and Language of Hate – will be held at Carmel High School gym at 6:30 p.m. It will be led by Steve Goldberg, Director of Education at the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center in White Plains, who will address the question of whether symbols are protected by the First Amendment. “The uptick in recent years in racism, antisemitism and homophobia have our attention,” Goldberg said. “This presentation will explore the language and symbols of hate, with specific emphasis on the power of words and the swastika and the noose.” In addition to the meetings, we have also put together a list of resources to help families talk with their children about difficult subjects, including how to combat antisemitism, violence in the news, explaining the news to kids, and about being good a digital citizen in a diverse community. I hope to see you at tonight’s event. |
| Sincerely,Joseph McGrathInterim Superintendent of Schools |
Dear Carmel Parents and Community,
It has come to my attention that there was a drawing of a swastika found on a table leg in a Carmel High School classroom today. We do not know how long this drawing was there. It is possible it is old but that, following last month's antisemitic vandalism on the CHS tennis court, students have a renewed sensitivity to such acts of discrimination. It is also possible that this swastika was only recently drawn. Either way, we applaud the students who brought this to their teacher's attention.
We are investigating this incident. These acts have serious consequences involving law enforcement, as demonstrated a few weeks ago.
We have reached out to the Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center in White Plains and, in the next few weeks, we will be holding workshops at the secondary level to combat antisemitism. There is no room for hate speech or action anywhere in our district. We are committed to fostering a a safe and protective learning environment for all.
I want to urge anyone with information about this offensive drawing to let school officials know. Students or parents who have concerns are invited to reach out to their building leadership or guidance counselors for assistance.
Sincerely,
Joseph McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Dear Carmel Community,
Welcome to the 2023-24 school year. It’s going to be great because with effort and enthusiasm, we will make it so. We are thrilled to welcome the students back to school for an exciting year of learning, growth and community spirit.
Our teachers, staff and administrators have been hard at work finding new ways to inspire young minds. Their goal is to help all students feel supported, respected and motivated to reach their full potential. We know that kindness is contagious, and we will continue to spread it around showing every student how much we value them.
This year we will be offering many new opportunities for students, including a new reading program based on the Science of Reading. It will emphasize skills that help children become proficient readers.
Thank you for being the kind of community that works together to support the schools. I encourage you all to get involved and be actively engaged in the education of our students. A culture of unity is what makes our community.
As part of our commitment to providing support to the community we also wanted to make sure you knew about this: the NYS Comptroller is returning lost money to New Yorkers. Check the Comptroller’s website to see if you are owed unclaimed money. It is a reasonably quick process that could end with you getting a check in the mail.
I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the Carmel Central School District this fall and wish you all a remarkable and rewarding school year ahead.
Best regards,
Joe McGrath
Interim Superintendent of Schools
Dear Carmel Community,
I hope this letter finds you wrapped in the embrace of joy and anticipation as we prepare to embark on yet another remarkable chapter in our educational journey together. The summer sun may have been shining, but it pales in comparison to the radiance that each of your children bring back to our halls as we prepare to welcome the laughter, learning, and shared experiences once more.
Our school has missed the cheerful hum of conversations, the echo of footsteps, and the sweet melodies of youthful enthusiasm! We are counting down the days to the heartwarming symphony that only our community can compose.
This year we have the distinct pleasure of introducing not just one, not two, but three extraordinary individuals who have chosen to dance their way into our hearts as our new principals. Ms. Darling at MPES, Dr. Neufville and GFMS and Mr. Piazza at CHS are joining our existing amazing principal team with Mr. Brown at KPS and Mr. Setaro at KES. We also are pleased that Mr. Svarczkopf has joined our ranks as interim Director of Technology. Additionally, we are welcoming several new teachers and other staff members who are excited to support and nurture our wonderful students.
Can you feel the excitement in the air? These remarkable educators come bearing not just wisdom and experience, but an abundance of warmth, compassion, and the promise of forging connections that will leave an indelible mark on our students' lives.
School calendars will be sent out on Monday and should be arriving in your mailboxes any day. In additional to important dates, the calendar has lots of useful information including a referral chart and other information on how to have your concerns addressed if you have the need.
You will be receiving more correspondence from our principals and our staff very shortly with information on the return to school, but I wanted to personally wish you a fantastic school year.
With warm regards,
Joe McGrath
Interim Superintendent
Art Teacher Alex Lombardo’s project for Matthew Paterson Elementary School fourth graders was catnip to the students.
The assignment called for students to create portraits of cats posing as humans and dressed up in fancy clothes. It was in the style of digital artist Galina Bugaevskaya, who reimagines traditional portraits, but with cats dressed up as royalty.
“I guide the students in how to draw the cats in human pose,” Lombardo said. “They are welcome to change their clothes and accessorize the cat.”
The students in Katherine Allen’s fourth grade class could not have been more excited to add to the artist’s Cat Universe.
The advisors of the Carmel Rock Ensemble club know how much fun the club at George Fischer Middle School can be for the students involved. Of course they know; the club’s two advisors, George Fischer Middle School Music Teacher Donald “Buddy” Griffith and Aja Broderson, who teaches voice lessons in the community were members of the Rock Ensemble when they were seventh graders.
“It was in the 2002-2003 school year,” Broderson said. “We sang ‘Take Me to the River,’ ‘Holiday,’ by Madonna and ‘All Along the Watch Tower.”
At the Carmel Rock Ensemble concert in March, the songs were a mix of contemporary pop, rock and roll covers and even punk, but the advisors made sure all the songs were appropriate for middle school.
“We cover a variety of singing styles, artists and backgrounds,” Griffith said. “We make sure there are a lot of different instruments reflected in the songs. We try to include current songs because the kids love them.”
The high-achieving Science Research students at Carmel High School have a lot to be proud of.
“We had one student place first and another student place third at the Eastern Junior Science and Humanities Symposium,” said Dr. Nicole J. Griffin, the Science Research Coordinator. “Being chosen to present your work is an honor and all of the chosen students did a wonderful job presenting their research.”
Two CHS students have received prestigious internships, Dr. Griffin said.
Then on Saturday, March 16, ten CHS juniors and seniors competed at the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair.
The second grade teachers at Matthew Paterson Elementary School decided that one way to teach reading would be to work with the words all around us. What could be more fun than to have students read the words and phrases that decorate each other's T-shirts?
On T-shirt Day the lesson in Catherine DeGloria’s class was on phonemes – the sounds of speech. While there are only 26 letters in the alphabet, there are 44 phonemes, which include the sounds made by “ph,” “oo,” “qu” and many other pairings.
“We are learning phonemes and we’re going to be reading words by pieces – or phonemes,” DeGloria said. “We are going to take a look at the words on our shirts.”
Justin Dalli remembers the first thing he ever built.
“When I was about 10, I bolted wheels to a pallet and just drove it down a hill,” Justin, a Carmel High School sophomore, said. “I managed to not get hurt.”
Justin is one of a group of creative woodshop students who built coyote silhouettes to help scare geese off Carmel Central School District fields.
“I call them ‘the crew,’” said Technology Teacher Don Saldico. “These are the kids who come into the woodshop in their free time because they like to make things and fix things. They are a tremendous help to us.”
The crew made the coyotes using the Computer Numerical Control machine, or CNC, in the woodshop classroom, said Don Saldico, a technology teacher.
The classic stage show "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” may bring back memories to a lot of people. But few will have as detailed memories of the popular musical as Peter Bellantoni, the Music Director for the play at Carmel High School.
“I played trumpet in the pit orchestra for “How to Succeed” when I was in high school,” said Bellantoni, the high school’s orchestra teacher. “I still remembered a lot of the vocal cues for the songs to start when we started rehearsing.”
The Carmel High School Music Production Workshop will present the show on Friday, March 15 at 7p.m. and Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at George Fischer Middle School.
Tickets can be purchased at https://chsperform.booktix.com for $18 in advance or $20 at the door.
Art created by Carmel Central School District students will be on display at multiple locations around the community during Youth Art Month in March. The Annual Youth Art Month Student Exhibit is sponsored by the Carmel/Kent Chamber of Commerce.
“We have about 120 students represented this year,” said Christine Wisniewski, the district’s Art Department chair. “They have created work in ceramics, graphics, drawing, painting and mixed media.”
The student work is on display at Kent Town Hall, Patterson Town Hall, Carmel Town Hall, Putnam Hospital, Meadowlands of Carmel, Kent Public Library, Patterson Library and more. The Chamber of Commerce will judge the show and announce awards in April.
Every drop helps. Carmel High School’s blood drive on Thursday, February 29, was a big success.
For decades now, students and staff from Carmel’s Alternative High School have staffed an annual blood drive at Carmel High School’s Casey Hall. New York Blood Center officials and nurses came to the high school and collected 47 pints of blood from students, staff and community members. Those donations will help save the lives of patients in area hospitals.
“I’ve been running this blood drive for 20 years,” said Chris Bellesheim, Carmel’s Alternative High School founder and teacher. “This gives students community service credit, and it saves lives. There is no substitute for human blood.”
The Carmel Central School District implemented a new reading program districtwide in the 2023-2024 school year. Watch this video to hear what students and teachers have to say about the Core Knowledge Language Arts, or CKLA, reading program.
If you walk anywhere in Carmel High School, you cannot miss the TV-sized digital display screens that showcase school information and announcements. Throughout Black History Month in February the screens displayed stories about historical figures who may not be household names.
The school’s Equity Club put together the Black History Month display so that students around the building could read the stories of six remarkable people.
“We wanted to represent not just black activists, but those who are underrepresented,” said Lila Perez, a senior. “We hear about Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, but there are a lot of others we don’t hear about.”
Lila researched and wrote about Phillis Wheatley Peters who is considered the first African American to have published a book of poetry.
“I like literature and poetry and I thought it would be good to find out more about her,” Lila said.
Aiden and Nouhou had a theory. They knew that putting a Mentos mint candy inside a bottle of soda, would make the soda go volcanic, but would putting a Mentos in different kinds of sodas change the size of the explosion?
The boys’ project was one of 96 projects showcased in the George Fischer Middle School Science Fair. This year, students competed in four distinct categories: biology, earth and space, invention and physical science. Almost 200 students participated.
“The Science Fair is the district's largest academic event of the year, and this year was exceptional,” said Science Fair Advisor Jeff Diamonde. “We estimate that more than 300 people came out to support our students and see their work.”
More than three dozen female athletes from Carmel High School visited the district’s three elementary schools on National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 7 to show the youngsters the value of sports.
Marina Cilento, a senior who is on the bowling team, opened the event by reading a statement to first graders in the gym at Kent Primary School.
“Each year since its inception in 1987, the U.S. Congress recognizes women’s contributions to sports and society on a day during the first week of February,” Marina said.
When the statement was over, the games began.
The first graders from Daina Sinclair and Corinne Phillips classes rushed to have the athletes guide them through the gymnastics course that was set up in the gym.
More than three dozen female athletes from Carmel High School visited the district’s three elementary schools on National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 7 to show the youngsters the value of sports.
First graders from Daina Sinclair and Corinne Phillips classes rushed to have the athletes guide them through the gymnastics course that was set up in the gym.
“The athletes who came all volunteered,” Carmel’s Athletic Director Christopher Salumn said. “It is a chance to bring awareness to female sports and all the opportunities they will have to participate when they get older.”
Ayva Rivard, a golfer, said she was happy to work with the youngsters.
“We are excited to be here and to give back to the schools,” Ayva said. “It’s a great opportunity to show girls here that they can be equal to boys in sports.”
Katie Ross, a junior who plays lacrosse, tried to convince a group of first graders – boys and girls – that they should take up her sport.
“You should all play lacrosse,” Katie said. “It’s the best game.”
For one weekend in January, the George Fischer Middle School auditorium was transformed into a Broadway-like stage. The actors and crew of Matilda the Musical Jr. created a show that drew standing ovations from crowds of admirers, and they had a great time doing it.
“I love acting,” said Ella Bancroft, who is president of the Drama Club. “But I think the most fun was getting to hang out with your friends every day.”
“It was also fun to make new friends,” said Analyse Pio, an eighth grader who is Drama Club secretary. The two girls each played Mrs. Wormwood in the play, which featured two different casts.
Seventh grader Aiden Forcheney, who played an “escapologist” in the show, said the play taught him that acting is very creative.
“I like learning new skills,” Aiden said. “We had to learn British accents. That was fun.”
Drama Club Co-Advisors Christine Ditota and Maureen Pio may have had the most fun of all. This was the second year that they teamed up to produce the middle school show.
“This program is working out so well,” said Ditota, who is a youth services librarian at the Kent Public Library. “I believe theater is extremely important. Theater inspires the children to create, imagine, play and experience other worlds and situations. Watching their confidence and willingness to jump in and get it done is something we should be proud of. “
With 53 middle school students and eight high schoolers involved, the cast and crew of the play was bigger than last year. The audience was bigger, too. Luckily, there were many helping hands.
Photojournalist Frank Becerra Jr. of The Journal News and Lohud.com came to Carmel High School's technology department, talked to students in the automotive repair classes and took photos of them repairing the brakes on an old Subaru.
You can see the whole story and so many great photos on the lohud.com site, but you may need a subscription.
Here is some of what Lohud reported:
"From building coyote silhouettes to keep geese off the athletic fields, to repairing small engines and minor car repairs, to building metal shelves. and even turning an old piano into a planter, students in Carmel High School's technology department learn real-world skills in woodshop, automotive, engineering, welding, and video production classes."
“In addition to teaching these kids a hands on trade we are also saving the taxpayers of the Carmel School District money by repairing and maintaining equipment throughout the school," said Robert Leonard Jr. Chairman of the Technology Education Department at Carmel High School."
“Ouch, that’s sharp,” a seventh grader said as the teacher passed around the claw of a great horned owl. “I wouldn’t want to get scratched by that.”
His classmates at George Fischer Middle School agreed.
Julia King, a naturalist at Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES’s Center for Environmental Education, visited Kerri Malheiro’s environmental science class in January and talked about the role of predators in an ecosystem.
“Why might an owl need sharp talons?” King asked.
“To take down their prey,” Christian said.
“That’s right,” King said. “And to carry it away. A great horned owl can lift 500 times its weight.”
To celebrate Robert Burns Night, Carmel High School Music, English and Special Education teachers teamed up to have students in the P.A.C.E. (or Personal, Academic and Community Experience) program sing songs and write their own poems in honor of the Scottish poet.
“Reading poetry teaches public speaking skills,” said music teacher Bryan Lynch, who wore a kilt for the event. “Students learn to articulate, to modulate their breath, to look the audience in the eye. These are good skills.”
The students in Denise Trach’s AP Literature class helped the P.A.C.E. students write poems using a Mad Libs style fill-in-the-blank sheet that Trach designed. Later, the P.A.C.E. students read their poems with assistance from the AP students.
“Today I feel like a STAR HERO,” read Josh. “Sometimes I feel like a SUPERHERO. Other times I am a HUMAN. But I am always A GOOD GUY.”
Kent Elementary School art teacher Rachel Berry picked the perfect week for her lesson on perspective.
On a day between snowstorms, she asked the first graders to create a picture of someone walking through the snow and leaving footprints, just like the classic illustrations in “The Snowy Day,” by Ezra Jack Keats.
“Look at the footprints,” Berry said. “What is happening to the size of them? As they get smaller, they look farther away.”
Berry showed the youngsters from Rissa Cutler’s class how to use simple shapes to make people. Then she showed them how to make the line of shrinking footsteps in the snow.
“Just make ovals for the footprints, and make them smaller as you go,” Berry said.
The fourth graders lined up and marched into George Fischer Middle School earlier this month, eager to see what the next step in their education might be like.
“This is your first visit to the middle school,” said Dr. Merica Neufville, the middle school principal. “We are going to show you some of the things you can choose to do when you come here.”
First stop for the soon-to-be graduates of Carmel Central School District’s three elementary schools was an introduction to the middle school music department. The youngsters also learned that they would have some choice in their middle school education.
“I know that a lot of you are in chorus this year,” said Meghan Cabral, the district’s music department chair. “I hope many of you choose chorus in middle school, too. When you are in middle school, you will have the opportunity to do band and chorus or orchestra and chorus, but you do not have to choose any of them. All students will take general music.”
Each school day, Matthew Paterson Elementary School Principal Jennifer Darling stands near the front door and greets the students as they come to school.
“Good morning,” she says. “Welcome to school. Have a great day.”
Some children stop to chat, some smile in reply, and others simply rush on to their friends and teachers.
To Principal Darling, the important thing is that the children sense that school is a supportive, nurturing community where they are cared for and safe.
So, she set out to read the book “School Is More Than a Building,” by Kelley Donner, to every class in every grade at Matthew Paterson Elementary. The picture book, written by the popular children’s book author when her children returned to school after being at home during the pandemic, shows the importance of social connection.
Darling started reading the picture book to the fourth grade and is working her way down through the other grades. On a recent morning, she visited Michele Love’s third grade class.
The next Board of Education meeting will be held on April 24, 2024, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at George Fischer Middle School. Public participation will begin at 6:30 p.m. with recognitions for tenure recipients and student accomplishments. Community members who wish to speak during the public comment section of the Board meeting are asked to sign up in advance using our Public Comment Sign-up Form here: https://forms.office.com/r/SnQBCFWYy8
The Board of Education meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. The Board may propose an immediate entry into executive session, limited to 30 minutes. Board meetings will continue to be live streamed on this page. Committee meetings are open to the public.
Community members can sign up for our Carmel Central School District News group through ParentSquare to stay up-to-date on district news and events. You will receive weekly e-newsletters as well as other updates with important district information. Current parents and staff are automatically subscribed to receive e-newsletters.
Community members who wish to speak during the public comment portion of a Board of Education meeting are asked to sign-up in advance using our Public Comment Sign-up Form or by contacting the District Clerk four (4) hours prior to the meeting at jstevens@carmelschools.org. The sign-up form will also be available at the meeting for anyone who wishes to speak and did not sign up in advance.
These individuals will be called upon during the scheduled public participation section on the agenda. To facilitate follow-up, please provide your name, telephone number, email address, and mailing address, as well as the topic of your comments. Speakers are limited to five (5) minutes each. No district employee or student may be commented upon or identified by name or situation.
As part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing safety, communication and equity districtwide, Carmel Central School District has launched a new communication tool, Anonymous Alerts®. This tool enables students or parents to report urgent information to school officials quickly, easily and anonymously across all our school campuses.
Recordings of Board of Education meetings and presentations from those meetings are available to the public.
BOE Committee Meetings (DEI/Special Ed, Support & Wellness)
BOE Committee Meetings (F&T, AFP)
